To make matters worse, the decisive goal was scored by former PAFC forward Abdelrahman Osama Mohamed (Torky), who returned to haunt his old club. Torky, let go by PAFC in December upon the expiration of his contract, proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The match was a tense affair, crucial for both teams’ survival hopes. Credit to Henry Leask who provided us with valuable insights. PAFC looked to build from the back, with Ranong United content to sit in their 4-4-2 formation, aiming to capitalise on any errors. PAFC struggled to progress the ball beyond their own midfielder Min, who delivered an assured and composed performance, though he often appeared an isolated figure of quality in the centre of the park.
PAFC were forced to field an unnatural defensive lineup, with Keng, typically a right-back, deployed at left-back, and captain Kla, usually a defensive midfielder, filling in at centre-back. To further compound their selection issues, Phuket were without several foreign players, with David and Luke reportedly injured, and Kai starting on the bench.
The first half was a largely uneventful affair, with neither side creating many clear-cut chances. The game lacked flow, punctuated by a bizarre six-minute delay to repair a hole in the net. Spectators also noted the poor condition of the pitch markings, which were barely visible from the stands. After the 30-minute mark, PAFC began to play more directly, targeting striker Bank. Bank became more involved in the game, but the attackers around him struggled to make an impact. The first half finished 0-0.
In the second half, PAFC upped the tempo, demonstrating greater urgency and playing the majority of the game in the Ranong half. They enjoyed a sustained period of possession and territory but failed to turn this dominance into goals.
Ranong United punished PAFC on the counter-attack. A swift break down the right wing led to a cut-back, and Torky was on hand to score, delivering a painful blow (‘A Shark Bite’) to his former employers.
PAFC continued to probe in search of an equaliser, earning a number of set-pieces. However, their delivery from these set-pieces was consistently poor, failing to trouble the Ranong defence.
Kai’s introduction at centre-forward, an unfamiliar role for him, provided a positive spark for Phuket. His tactical intelligence was evident as he made intelligent runs and linked up well with Bank. Kai almost scored from a cross from the left, coming close to levelling the match.
PAFC best chance to salvage a point came with the final kick of the game. A loose ball from a corner fell invitingly, but the resulting shot curled agonisingly over the crossbar, leaving PAFC to rue their missed opportunity.
While this performance was generally much improved, it highlighted PAFC’s persistent issues: a lack of chance creation and goal scoring. As it stands, this is not a recipe for success. The loss leaves PAFC at the bottom of the table. The only positive is that their relegation rivals, Yala City, also lost, meaning they are still within reach with two games to go.
Simon Causton is the host of ‘A Thai Football Podcast’ and writer of the ’Football Siam’ blog which covers all things Thai football.